Been given a modest £2k+ budget to replace our old Lloyds gang mowers - looking for a refurbished 3-set of Ransomes.
I've just tried RTM, anyone suggest where else I might look ?
9 Feb 2010 by Mike
Charles - try Greensward Direct (pm me for their number if you wish) - they usually have a good selection of recon gangs.
Mike
Surely 2K would refurbish your old lloyds set Charles, and you would know exactly what had been done.
Why not speak to Clive Nottingham at Lloyds and pose the question.
Speak to your local machine engineer.
If i remember rightly Mike, Greensward always seem to come in at 4K plus.
On my Lloyds two of the three reels need replacing, all the bottom blades and adjusters, and one of the gear mechanisms has a skipping problem. It runs on thin steel studded rims which sink when the ground is soft, and bounce when hard, so I want to try tyres. It is no doubt worth someone doing work on them or using the best bits as spares, but I don't think Lloyds would do a full refurb for £2k when the new set is £9k. My local workshop said we should go for a (relatively) modern generation like the Magna/Sportcutter Mk11-13.
9 Feb 2010 by sipho
HI
Where are you situated charles ?
Gogga International Affairs Officer
Charles....im surprised Richard at RTM wasnt any help, ive known him for years.......anyway....one place i used for second hand , refurbed machines is ARC Engineering, they are in Milton Common near Oxford....right on J7 of the M40...you need to speak to Andy Costar on 01844 278950....his quality of work is excellent...
Ticky supports British farmers...!!
May well be good advice Charles, but will you get what was suggested for a couple of grand ?
I have a fully refurbed Ransomes hydraulic 5 for £1500.
Chris
You will never see a statue in honour of a committee.
10 Feb 2010 by Charles Johnson
Hello
Sipho - we are in Woking.
Simon - Richard has been very responsive, but may not have exactly what is best for us. Thanks for your suggestion about ARC, I will try Andy.
Gordon - we will see, if we have to find a little more money then so be it, the old gangs are for exchange too.
Chris - thanks, but no thanks too much for my situation.
10 Feb 2010 by Mr Michael Reece
We have a fully refurbished set of toro 5 unit gang mowers.They have been reground with new bottom blades added. Unfortuanatly they are over your budget at a cost of £3000.00 but would be worth the extra if you can stretch to it. Mick Reece.
Charles
There is a set of fullt refurbished Ransomes magnas onn ebay. Thhey are asking for £2500 plus vat or nearest offer. 24 hours left on auction and no bids as yet so you might get them cheaper
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ONE-SET-OF-3-RECONDITIONED-RANSOMES-MAGNA-GANG-MOWERS_W0QQitemZ190370699440QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Home_Garden_GardenPowerTools_CA?hash=item2c52fa58b0
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
10 Feb 2010 by Charles Johnson
Hello Barry, thanks for that. I have looked at eBay and there are one or two which might suit. I'm now torn between metal and tyred wheels, I wouldn't want to have to deal with flats etc The Magna is the larger diameter reel, I think, and the Sportscutter is smaller and with maybe 1 more blade for a closer finish.
Tyres are a nightmare Charles. If you dont suffer punctures and perishing the kids let them down.
Charles
Tyred must be the better option. I had a set for 5 years and never had a flat.But does depend where you are keeping them like everything else I suppose. Mine were left in the open with a cover over them. But who has room to keep them under cover?
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
11 Feb 2010 by Charles Johnson
Well done chaps, two equally confident and opposite opinions so it must have been a good question.
If the tyres were filled with run-flat sealant maybe I would get the benefit of running on tyres without the risk of punctures !
Sounds a good idea Charles. how effective it is i will let others answer, no experience myself.
Why must tyres be a better option ?
Toro and Lloyds run on metal wheels as far as i know, as do many Ransome sets.
Why are tyres better? Cos I said so!
Seriously folks, if the ground is a bit soft, the tyres dont mark the ground as bad and metal tyres are just more metal waiting to rust as probably the gangers will be keep outside to the elements and replacing the tyres is probably cheaper than the wholes metal wheel, I would have thought.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
11 Feb 2010 by sipho
I run 2 sets of 5 lloyds gangs with steel wheels. - I came accross the invoices for the older set the otherday - 1976.
They live outside all year (they might come inside for a week during the winter for a check up and bottom blade change.)
I dont have a problem with rust - its all in the paint work - if you look after them they will last a long time.
The rims with rubber tyres would rust just as much as the steels.
sip
sip
Gogga International Affairs Officer
The problem with tires is that in the winter months (when it is soft) they can't get enough purchase on the ground to actually drive the cylinders. The metal wheels with spikes will work better on softer ground than tires will.
Personally I detest wheel driven gangs with a passion - but perhaps I'm weird.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
15 Feb 2010 by Charles Johnson
Thanks to every one for their help.
I think we have found the set for us, a refurbished 3-set of Ransomes Sportcutters from Channer Mower Services, on steels. He had quite a range from Magna 13's to Sportscutter 11's on steel or tyres.
oh bugger....i forgot about Martin Channer.......he is on my bloody doorstep too....(to be fair to myself, i thought he was drifting away from groundcare machines....as i saw him at a couple of car auctions).. ..Martins machines are rebuilt very well too.....my dad used to use him as well
Ticky supports British farmers...!!
17 Feb 2010 by Charles Johnson
Simon, I drove past Flackwell Heath's ground sign on the way home and thought of you, but then it was Valentine's day !
Hi charles,
are you still looking for a set of gangs?
I have a set of Ransomes 5 cylinder gang mowers (wheeled)
for sale if you are still interested ready to go! £2850
Sue Lacey
18 Mar 2010 by Charles Johnson
Following a sustained dry spell here, and the promise of rain to come, I took the chance to try out my new Sportcutters today.
I had to wind the reels off the bedknives, which was pretty straightforward, will wind them back on a smidge for next time. The blades were so sharp I was in danger of cutting myself. They run freely over the ground and chuck plumes of clippings in the air (and over me) like you see on the ads.
Happy with the steel rims instead of tyres too, the dimples will make a good target for over-seeding on bare patches.
Well done Martin Channer.
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